7And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison [20:8] and will go out to deceive the peoples at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle — their number is like the sand of the sea. [20:9] And they went up over the breadth of the earth and surrounded the military encampment of the holy ones and the beloved city. And fire came down from heaven and devoured them. [20:10] And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet also are, and they will be tormented day and night into the age of the ages.
REV 20:7-10
Satan Cast into the Lake of Fire
In the world it was spoken into
In the first century, the imagery of Satan being released after a thousand years would resonate deeply with Jewish apocalyptic expectations. The mention of Gog and Magog, drawn from Ezekiel 38-39, would evoke the idea of eschatological enemies gathering for a final battle against God’s people. The 'camp of the saints' would recall Israel’s wilderness encampment, symbolizing divine protection and communal identity. The 'beloved city' likely refers to Jerusalem, the center of Jewish hope and divine favor, though early Christian readers might also see it as the heavenly Jerusalem. Fire from heaven consuming the enemies echoes biblical judgments, such as Sodom and Gomorrah, reinforcing God’s ultimate sovereignty. The deception of the nations underscores the pervasive influence of Satan among Gentiles, a common theme in Jewish and early Christian thought. This passage would affirm the certainty of God’s victory over evil, a central tenet of apocalyptic literature.
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How other translations render this
REV 20:7
- KJV
- And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
- BSB
- When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison,
- Koinōnos
- And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison
REV 20:8
- KJV
- And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
- BSB
- and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore.
- Koinōnos
- and will go out to deceive the peoples at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle — their number is like the sand of the sea.
REV 20:9
- KJV
- And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
- BSB
- And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.
- Koinōnos
- And they went up over the breadth of the earth and surrounded the military encampment of the holy ones and the beloved city. And fire came down from heaven and devoured them.
REV 20:10
- KJV
- And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
- BSB
- And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
- Koinōnos
- And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet also are, and they will be tormented day and night into the age of the ages.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
REV 20:8
- nations:The word translated 'nations' here often referred specifically to non-Jewish peoples, carrying a sense of distinct ethnic or cultural groups rather than just political entities.
REV 20:9
- camp:The term translated 'camp' often referred to a military encampment or barracks, suggesting a fortified and organized position, not just a temporary gathering.
- beloved.:The word translated 'beloved' here is a form of the Greek word for 'love' that emphasizes a chosen, committed, and often sacrificial love, rather than merely affection or fondness.
REV 20:10
- ages:The word translated 'ages' refers to a long, indefinite period of time, often with a sense of eternity or a distinct epoch, rather than simply multiple chronological periods.